Transfer portal impact on the CFB Playoffs: Texas vs Washington

When looking through the rosters of the No. 2 Washington Huskies and the No. 3 Texas Longhorns before their College Football Playoff matchup at the Sugar Bowl on January 1st, it’s apparent the NCAA transfer portal benefitted both programs.

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Let’s take a closer look at how the transfer portal has helped both schools.

Texas

Quinn Ewers, QB, Ohio State via Southlake (Texas) Carroll

The much ballyhooed former No. 1 overall prospect grew up a lifelong Longhorns fan and committed to Texas before his junior year in high school. But Ewers de-committed days after UT’s loss to Oklahoma in the 2020 Red River Shootout when it was apparent the program was in neutral.

After flipping to Ohio State, Ewers skipped his senior year at Southlake Carroll and enrolled a year early in Columbus ahead of the 2021 season.

Ewers entered the transfer portal the following December after Sarkisian’s first year on the Forty Acres. He committed to Texas less than two weeks later and was on campus for Spring ball in 2022.

Ewers won the starting job over the incumbent Hudson Card during fall camp and never looked back. In 21 games at Texas, he’s 420-of-647 for 5,338 yards and 36 touchdowns with 12 interceptions. He won 2023 Big 12 Championship MVP honors after his record-setting performance over Oklahoma State.

Keilan Robinson, RB, Alabama via Washington (D.C.) St. John’s

The four-star tailback committed to Alabama’s Class of 2019 out of high school. After two seasons in Tuscaloosa where he notched 254 yards rushing and two touchdowns, he transferred to UT. In 2021 and 2022, he was named Honorable Mention Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year and honorable mention Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year, respectively.

He’s provided a big burst in the 2023 season. He was named to the preseason watch list for the Reese’s Senior Bowl, and tallied 542 yards rushing and six touchdowns, while adding 332 yards receiving on 35 catches and three scores in his career. He added a punt return and kickoff return for touchdowns in 2022 and 2023, respectively. He was instrumental in Texas’ Big 12 Championship winning efforts with two touchdowns against Oklahoma State.

Adonai Mitchell, WR, Georgia via Missouri City (Texas) Ridge Point

After 15 starts and winning a pair of national titles in Athens, the Class of 2021 pass-catcher made a move to Austin for his junior season. Wanting to be closer to his daughter in Houston, he’s been spectacular for the Horns’ offense. He has 831 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns on 51 catches in 2023. He took home Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year honors last month.

Ryan Watts, CB, Ohio State via Little Elm (Texas)

The former Buckeyes defensive back and member of the Class of 2020 transferred to Austin after two seasons in Columbus. He joined the Horns in 2022 and was named All Big 12 honorable mention in his first season. He’s tallied 83 tackles, five tackles for loss, seven pass breakups, one sack, and one interception in two seasons on the Forty Acres.

Washington

Michael Penix, QB, Indiana via Tampa (Fla.) Tampa Bay Tech

After spending the 2018 through 2021 seasons in Bloomington, where he only played in 20 games over four years for Indiana, he transferred to Washington in 2022. He has started all 26 games since arriving at U-Dub, going 669-of-1,020 for 8,859 yards and 64 touchdowns while adding seven rushing scores. Penix was named to numerous watch and awards lists. He’s a 2023 Heisman finalist, along with Maxwell, Walter Camp, and Davey O’Brien award finalist honors. He was named All Pac-12 second team in 2023 as well.

Ja’Lynn Polk, WR, Texas Tech via Lufkin (Texas)

After a stellar career at Lufkin where he finished among the top receivers in Panthers history with Dez Bryant and Keke Coutee, he signed and enrolled at Texas Tech in 2020. But the Red Raiders didn’t seem enamored with keeping the East Texas talent, so he transferred to Washington in the Spring of 2021. In three years in the Pacific Northwest, he’s accumulated 1,808 yards receiving and 15 touchdowns on 106 receptions.

Jabbar Muhammad, CB, Oklahoma State via Desoto (Texas)

The relative of Texas cornerback Malik Muhammad, Jabbar played three seasons at Oklahoma State, starting 13 out of 31 games, and was named honorable mention All Big 12 in 2022. He enrolled at Washington in the Spring of 2023 and was instantly a hit. He earned All Pac 12 second team honors after collecting 42 tackles, five tackles for loss, three interceptions, and two sacks for the Huskies in 2023.

Muhammad won the Newcomer of the Year and Defensive Skill Player of the Year Award at the team’s postseason banquet recently.

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Germie Bernard, WR, Michigan State via Las Vegas (Nev.) Liberty

The 6-foot-1, 203-pound sophomore transferred to UW after spending one season in East Lansing. He’d originally signed with the Huskies, but was released from his NLI and enrolled at MSU in January 2022, where he played in all 12 games for the Spartans and snagged seven catches for 128 yards and two touchdowns. He was back at Washington in the Spring of 2023, notching 371 yards receiving and two touchdowns on 31 catches this season.